What exactly is NYU looking for in their college essay prompt?
I’ve been working on my list of schools and NYU is way up there for me, so I started looking at their supplemental essay prompt. It looks kind of open-ended, and I keep hearing that it’s not just about 'why NYU,' but more about how you fit with their community. I'm a little confused about how detailed I should get or if I need to talk about really specific programs, or if I should focus more on my personal story.
For anyone who’s applied or maybe already goes there, what did you write your essay about? Was there something that made your essay successful or really stand out? Should I get super personal, or do they want it to be more about academics and career stuff?
I want to make sure my essay hits the right points since NYU is kind of my dream. Any guidance would help a lot!
For anyone who’s applied or maybe already goes there, what did you write your essay about? Was there something that made your essay successful or really stand out? Should I get super personal, or do they want it to be more about academics and career stuff?
I want to make sure my essay hits the right points since NYU is kind of my dream. Any guidance would help a lot!
4 months ago
•
86 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
NYU’s supplemental essay usually asks you something along the lines of, “Why NYU?” or “Why do you want to study at NYU in particular?” but you’re right—it’s not just about naming programs or listing facts from their website. They want to see how your interests, goals, and personality align with NYU’s unique global, urban, and diverse community.
A strong NYU essay shows that you’ve done your research *and* understand what makes NYU different from other schools. While you should mention specific things that attract you (like a particular department, course, or NYU’s presence in cities like New York, Shanghai, or Abu Dhabi), you also want to tie these back to your personal journey.
For example, one applicant wrote about growing up in a multicultural family and how NYU’s setting would let them blend their interests in language, politics, and international relations in real life—not just in theory. Another person highlighted how the Gallatin School’s individualized study option fit their desire to combine film and psychology. Both of these essays worked because the writers didn’t just say, “NYU offers X, Y, and Z.” Instead, they showed how *they* are a perfect fit for the school’s resources, and how they’d contribute to the campus culture.
It’s smart to get personal—the best essays usually balance your story and interests with a clear reason for choosing NYU. If you have an experience that connects directly to something very NYU-specific (like an interest in city journalism paired with Washington Square News or a passion for performing connecting to Tisch), highlight it. But always make it about your growth, your voice, and how you want to contribute, rather than just what NYU can do for you.
The best essays avoid being generic. Instead of, “NYU is in New York City and diverse, which I love,” focus on “As someone who started a community podcast to share multilingual immigrant stories, I’m drawn to NYU’s Center for Multicultural Advancement and would love to collaborate on events that…”
In summary: get specific about NYU, but make it personal. Show how you fit in—and what you’ll bring. Don’t just list facts. Connecting your authentic motivations to NYU’s opportunities usually makes the strongest impression.
A strong NYU essay shows that you’ve done your research *and* understand what makes NYU different from other schools. While you should mention specific things that attract you (like a particular department, course, or NYU’s presence in cities like New York, Shanghai, or Abu Dhabi), you also want to tie these back to your personal journey.
For example, one applicant wrote about growing up in a multicultural family and how NYU’s setting would let them blend their interests in language, politics, and international relations in real life—not just in theory. Another person highlighted how the Gallatin School’s individualized study option fit their desire to combine film and psychology. Both of these essays worked because the writers didn’t just say, “NYU offers X, Y, and Z.” Instead, they showed how *they* are a perfect fit for the school’s resources, and how they’d contribute to the campus culture.
It’s smart to get personal—the best essays usually balance your story and interests with a clear reason for choosing NYU. If you have an experience that connects directly to something very NYU-specific (like an interest in city journalism paired with Washington Square News or a passion for performing connecting to Tisch), highlight it. But always make it about your growth, your voice, and how you want to contribute, rather than just what NYU can do for you.
The best essays avoid being generic. Instead of, “NYU is in New York City and diverse, which I love,” focus on “As someone who started a community podcast to share multilingual immigrant stories, I’m drawn to NYU’s Center for Multicultural Advancement and would love to collaborate on events that…”
In summary: get specific about NYU, but make it personal. Show how you fit in—and what you’ll bring. Don’t just list facts. Connecting your authentic motivations to NYU’s opportunities usually makes the strongest impression.
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Camille Luong
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
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5 years
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